Pressure gauge



May 15, 1945. R HN 2,376,156

PRESSURE GAUGE Filed Feb. 7, 1944 Flgl,

- REQORDER AMPLIFIER Inventor": HansPKuel -wni,

12y M7 l-hs Attorney.

FLUX DENSITY 0 POUNDS PER 80. INCH COMPRESSION Patented Ma 15, 1945 Hans P. Kuehni. Schenectady, Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 7, 1944, Serial No. 521,317 Claims. ((31.177-351) My invention relates to pressure gauges useful in the measurement of the pressures of fluids and gases, and its object is to provide such 'a gauge suitable for the measurement of difierential'or direct pressuresv over a Wide range with good accuracy, including pressure changes which occur at high rapidity,-such, for example, as the pressure changes which occur in the cylinder of a compressor. In carrying my inventioninto-effeet, I make use of the principle of magnetostriction and cause the pressure changes to be measured to vary the compression of a magnetostriction element constituting the core of a variable inductance, which is contained in a suitable electrical measurement-circuit responsive to the changes in the permeability of the magnetostriction element.

v The features of my invention which are believed to be novel and patentable will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference is made in the following description to the accompanying drawing which represents in Fig. 1 a preferred embodiment of my improved pressure gauge, partially in section, and electrical measuring circuit connections thereto; and Fig.

2 is a fluxldensity compression stress curve of the magnetostriction element.

The pressure gauge unit shown comprises a hollow metallic casing structure ID of circular cross section with one end closed by an orifice cap II and the other end closed byan orifice plug I2. The cap and plug are threaded into the casing part I0 and are hence removable. Cap II has a knurled surface. surface portion l3 on the casing part III. Fourteen (Hl) indicates a hole in such part for inserting a pin type wrench, and the plug l2 has flattened sides as indicated at l5, so that a wrench may be appliedthereto firmly to seat the-plug There is an enlarged knurled.

a screw'plug 20 near the lower end of the vent until all of the gas has escaped.

The cap ll likewise has a central threaded opening or orifice at 2| into which a pipe may be screwed tov connect asecond pressure system to the gauge unit in case a differential pressure 'is to be investigated. Otherwise the opening 2| may be left open or loosely closed by a screw plug to keep dirt out of the gauge. Twenty-two (22) indicates a gasket between the cap II and the upper end of the casing Ill by means of which a gas-tight seal may be obtained. When the cap II is removed, access to an auxiliary circular'resilient diaphragm or spring 23 and an adjustable seat 24 therefor may be had. The seat 24 is in the form of a hollow externally threaded nut which fits the threaded opening into which the cap H is screwed. Twenty-five (25) indicates a wrench or screwdriver hole in the inner surface of the nut to facilitate its turning and vertical adjustment of 'the seat for the upper edge of diaphragm 23. The diaphragm 23 is not a pressure sealed diaphragm'and is not subject to the in the threaded opening into which it screws. The

plug l2 has a central threaded orifice at 16 into ,which a pipe communicating with the gas or When liquid pressure is to be investigated and it is desirable to bring the liquid directly against the diaphragm I'I', entrapped air or other gas may be, vented from adjacent the diaphragm by way of a, vent IS in one side of plug l2 by loosening pressure under investigation, but has one or more openings or-a sufficiently uneven fit against its seat that the static pressure above and below this diaphragm is always the same. The auxiliary diaphragm 23- serves merely. as a spring a coil 28-is contained. The coil and shell are held in place between an inner shoulder 29 "of the casing in and a resilient snap ring 30 which expands and partially enters into a groove at 3| at the lower end of the shell 21.

inserted in place through the lower end of casing Ill-when the plug l2 and diaphragm l'lare removed. The. bar 26 extends throughthe center of the coil and shell without touching so that upward pressure ondiaphragm. I1 is communicated through the bar to the auxiliary diaphragm 23 r and causes compression forces in the bar.

Also, the gaseous or liquid pressure prevailing'in the cap end of the gauge is communicated directly The shell 21, magnetostriction bar 26, and ring 3i may be .in which case tube 26 to the upper surface of diaphragm ll. The spool is centered in the central cavity of the casing l0, and the magnetostriction tube 26 is centered by having its pointed ends set into depressions at the centers of the diaphragms. The depression in the upper diaphragm 23 may be a cone-shaped hole. The tube 26 is'made of a material such as nickel steel having high magnetostriction or.

change in permeability with changes in stress therein, and it forms the core of the coil, and the shell 21 completes the magnetic circuit about the coil. Shell 21 is made of a magnetic material having high permeability, such as the nickel iron alloy known by the trade name Nicaloi. The air gaps between the tube 28 and shell 2i are made small. An air gap in this magnetic circuit reduces sensitivity but improves the wave shape of the alternatin current with which the coil is energized. The tube 26 may have an outside diameter of one-eighth inch and its wall thickness may be of the order oi 0.006 inch.

In using the gauge, the tube it is under some slight initial compression for zero pressure adjustment calibration and for this purpose, the seat 24 for the upper diaphragm 23 is made vertically adjustable by screwing the'seat nut 2t up and down and, when once adjusted, remains fixed in place.

In Fig. 2, I have shown a characteristic curve 01' the ratio of flux density in the tube 26 and compression on tube 26 in pounds per square inch, where the alternating current excitation on the coil is held constant. It is noted that the fiux density decreases with increase in compression due to the decrease in permeability of the tube 28. The gauge may be calibrated to have a zero pressure measurement adjustment corresponding to point A on the curve. That is, with zero pressure difference on opposite sides of diaphragm l1, nut 24 is screwed down until the flux density in tube 28 corresponds to point. A, and the initial compression on the tube corresponds to the value 0. Now, when gaseous or liquid pressure is ap- E'plied to the chamber beneath the diaphragm H,

the compression of the tube 26 increases and the flux density in the tube decreases. The measurement range may extend to point B on the curve, as this isthe most sensitive part of the curve. Filux density B corresponds to pounds per square inch compression of the tube 26 01' value P. Thus the'pr'essure measurement range is from O to P,

as indicated in Fig. 2.

The relation between compression in pounds per square inch of tube 26 and the differential liquid or gaseous pressure on'diaphragm- I! depends upon'the relation between the cross-sec-f tional area of the tube and the effective area of the diaphragm, and also, on the relative stiflness diaphragm I! of suchthickness as compared to that of diaphragm 23 that the upward force is .equally distributed between the two diaphragms,

hall the upward pressure applied to thelower diaphragm. I- maynow replace diaphragm H with a thicker-diaphragm such that only onetenth of the pressure applied is conveyed through would be subject to onelightweight, thin-walled tube as betw the lower diaphragm by a still thicker and stiffer diaphragm such that only one-fiftieth of the pressure applied to the lower diaphragm is conveyed to the upper diaphragm, thus again chang ing the calibration range by five, or twenty-five as compared to the thinnest diaphragm II first assumed. Thus an important aspect of my invention is the provision or several diiferent thicknesses, interchangeable, pressure diaphragms for use at ill for the purpose of changing the pressure measurement range oi the device over wide limits. This change is made by simply unscrewing plug l2 and replacing one diaphragm with another. The i'iiaphragms may be made of stainless steel orphosphor bronze, or any other suitable resilient materialthat will not corrode in the presence of the gases or liquids with which they come in contact.

It is also possible to change the range oi. callbration of the gauge by changes in the stifiness oi the upper diaphragm or by changes in both diaphragms, but in general sufficient changes in this respect are obtained by changing the pressure diaphragm at ll, which leaves everything else unchanged. When the calibration oi the gauge is changed as described above, the magnetostriction range of operation as explained in connection with Fig. 2is not disturbed. That is, the compression applied to the magnetostriction tube 2e always operates within the most satisfactory :dux density and compression range A-B, Fig. 2, although a change in the diaphragm at i! .may require some small adjustment of the posibrate for the initial adjustment A.

Another point that should receive consideration, where the gauge is likely to be subjected to vibration, has to do with the inertia and spring relation of the two diaphragms so as to avoid subjecting the magnetostriction element to compression forces which are due to any tendency of the two diaphragms and element 26 to accelerate unequally when subjected to vibration of mechanically to reduce the mass of the elements correspondingly. It is therefore desirable to reduce the mass of the parts which move with the diaphragms as much as possible, and it will be noted that in my gauge the only mass involved is that of the diaphragms themselves and the When the gauge unit is subject to vibration in the direction of its longitudinal axis and assuming for'the moment that the element 28 is nut present, the centers of the diaphragms tend to remain stationary because of their mass and both will deflect in the same direction by an unequal amount in general. However, it is readily seen that by'properly matching the stiffness of the diaphragm and by properly distributing the masses, ual deflections of both diaphragms in response to acceleration may be obtained. When this is the case, the distance between the centers of the diaphragm does not tend to varyunder the accelerations "applied and, therefore, the

the tube to the'upper diaphragm, thus changing pressure response element 25.: placed betweenthem will not receive any part0: the acceleration forces except those minor acceleration forces een them.

which are set up by itself. In general, this condition is satisfied when The effective inductance of the solenoid havin the core 26 and the coil 28 varies in response to' the change in permeability of its magnetic circuit due to the compression changes on tube 26. and the coil is connected to a suitable measuring centers or said diaphragms, means for adjusting the position of said spring diaphragm relative to the pressure diaphragm so as to adjust the initial compression on said magnetostriction element, an

alternating current coil surrounding said magnetostriction element for producing a flux therein,

. and a magnetic circuit surrounding said coil and spaced from said element at either end-of said circuit so that such changes can be measured in terms of pressure changes. I prefer to employ an A.-C. bridge circuit as represented, where the coil 28' in series with one-half of a transformer winding 33, and a similar gauge unit or standard 34 in series with the other half of the transformer winding 33; are energized in parallel from an .A.-C. source 35. Theunit 34 may be a duplicate of the gauge described or simply the magnetostriction ractance coil element thereof adjusted coil by small air gaps.

2. A pressure gauge unit. comprising a casing,,

a variable inductance within said casing comprising a hollow cylindrical coil, a magnetic shell enclosing the outer side and end portions of said coil except for openings axially of the coil, a magnetostri-ction element freely extending through said coil and shell openings but spaced from the end portions'of said shell by narrow air gaps, a circular spring diaphragm, an adjustable seat supporting the edges thereof, a circular resilient pressure diaphragm supported at its edges, said magnetostriction element being held by compression between the centers of said diaphragms, a hollow plug threaded into an opening in one end of said casing for clamping the pressure diafor the condition A, Fig. 2. When there is zero I fluid or gas pressure on the measurement gauge,

- the bridge will be balanced and there will be no voltage induced in its secondary 36. .When pressure is now applied to the pressure diaphragm l I, the current in coil 28 will increase due to the decrease in reactance, and a proportional current will be induced in the winding 36 of the measure ment transformer. I prefer to include a pair of bandpass filters 31 and 38 in the measuring circuit to prevent unwanted harmonic currents from influencing the measurements. Thirty-nine (39) represents an amplifier and 40 and ii are indicating and recording instruments, respectively. Where rapid'pressure pulsations are to be investigated, I prefer to use a source of alternating current supply of from 2000120 4000 cycles. Satisfactory measurement operation is obtained where the frequency .of the source of supply is at least four times greater than the frequency of the pressure pulsations to be recorded. For investigating rapidly varying pressures, the recording instrument at ll may be of theo'scillograph type.

The pressure gauge unit described may be used in any position, either end up or with its axis horizontal. Either static or rapidly varying pres-- sures may be measured and recorded. The gauge may be used to measure pressures with respect to atmospheric pressure or with respect to any reference pressure by piping the reference pressure to orifice 2|. In so doing, the higher pressure should be piped to orifice IS. The gauge is readily adjustable for several different ranges by changing the pressure diaphragm at H, and the gauge is so designed as to prevent mass acceleration e1? rors which might otherwise be occasioned by vibration.

What I claim as new and desire to secure b v Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pressure gauge unit comprising a casin a flexible pressuresealed circular diaphragm supported at its edges in said casing, means for subjecting one sideof said diaphragm to pressure variations to be investigated, a circular spring diaphragm supported at its edges within said casing parallel to the pressure diaphragm, a mag-fnetostriction element compressed between the phragm in placeat its edges with a gas-tight seal, said plug being removable and when removed permits the pressure diaphragrn'to be withdrawn posed to such pressure, said pressure diaphragm serving to resist some of the force of such ressure and serving to convey a portion of such orce through the magnetostriction element to the spring diaphragm to vary said inductance.

3. A pressure gauge unit comprising a hollow casing of circular cross section, a circular seat within said casing, a circular resilient pressure diaphragm and a plug fitting into one end of said casing for clamping said pressure diaphragm at its edges against said seat with a gas-tight seal, means for exposing the opposite sides of said diaphragm to pressure difl'erences to be investigated, said plug and diaphragm being removable from said casing to permit the use of different stiffness pressure diaphragms therein, a circular spring diaphragm disposed within said casing parallel and coaxial with the pressure diaphragm,-

'means for supporting the edges of said spring diaphragm which supporting means is adjustable within said casing for varying the spacing betweenthe edges of said diaphragms, a magnetostriction element held by compression between the centers of said diaphragms so as to be subject to a compression .force which varies with the pressure difierences under'investigation, and a solenoid having said magnetostriction element as its magnetic core such that the inductance of said solenoid is varied in response to compression changes in said element.. v

4. In a pressure gauge, pressure measuring magnetostriction apparatus comprising a pair of circular resilient diaphragms disposed parallel and 'coaxial to each other. said diaphragms being supported at their edges and having their centers connected together by a magnetostriction sensitive magnetic element which is held in place between the centers of said diaphragms solely by compression forces between the diaphragms,

means for subjecting one of said diaphragms to diaphragm through said element thereby varying the compression of such element, said diaphragms having the relation S USR where M and M1 represent the masses of the diaphragms and S and S1 their thicknesses respectively. v

5. A pressure gauge unit comprising a hollow metallic casing of circular cross section, screw threaded plug closures for opposite ends of said casing by means of which said casing may be hermetically sealed, pipe fitting openings in said plug closures for piping pressures to be measured thereto, a pair of circular resilient diaphragins supported at their edges parallel and coaxial to each other within said casing, said diaphragms being accessible and removable from said casing when the end plug closures are removed, a thin tubular magnetostriction element which is supported between the centers of said diaphraems solely by compression forces, one of said diaphragms being subject to the diiference in pressure existing in the two ends of said casing and the other diaphragm being subject only to the bending; force applied thereto through the magnetostriction element, means for adjusting the initial spacing between said diaphragms and an inductance coil between the diaphragms having a substantially closed magnetic circuit including .15 said magnetostriction element.

HANS P. K'UE'HNI. 

